Love Songs - A Compilation in Support of Gaza (Premiere)

 Written by: The Administrator

We slumbering scribes are honored to premiere here today a sonically eclectic charity compilation benefiting a Gazan family. In the words of Basil Elzeenaty: "amidst the chaos, we yearn for a helping hand to provide sustenance, essential medical aid, and the means to secure shelter." Purchasing Love Songs is a direct way to provide assistance.

This 11 track compilation was compiled and curated by Ben Serna-Grey of Mother Anxiety, and is currently available for pre-order on bandcamp for an exceptionally fair $1. It will be released in full tomorrow, July 26th, but if the meantime you can listen to it in full below!

We'll talk more about the music itself shortly, but first, let's talk about the cause itself. Whereas many charity projects I've encountered are vague when it comes to where exactly the money goes, 100% of the funds raised go towards supporting Dr. Basil's campaign through Operation Olive Branch to help safely evacuate his family (parents, 4 sisters, and 2 brothers) from Gaza. More info about the campaign can be found via Gofundme--I encourage you to read Basil's story in full. At the time of writing, €36,603 has been raised of €55,000 goal, and if this compilation can narrow that gap by any amount, it has been a worthwhile endeavor. In the midst of genocide it is far too easy to lose sense of the victims on an individual basis, and understanding the impact of the charity on a personal level reinforces the importance of fundraising. Supporting directly and/or purchasing the compilation is a very concrete and tangible way to assist Gazans in dire need of security and basic human amenities. Additionally, Ben will generously send a free Mother Anxiety patch and some stickers (while supplies last) to anyone who donates at least $5 to any Operation Olive Branch campaign and shows proof.

Without further ado: listen to Love Songs below! As always, we'll meet ye on the other side.

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This compilation is not technically curated around a central sound or genre, but there are certainly aesthetics that permeate the majority of the 11 tracks herein. Before we get too far into it, please note that the curation is excellent, with each artist contributing a track (or two, in the case of Adzes, S H R I E K I N G, and Mother Anxiety) to an overall elaborate listening experience. Many songs involve a electronic, noisy, and/or found sound component. Sometimes this is overt--take, for example, the skittering and overtly beep-bloopy "ii" courtesy of Mother Anxiety, or the menacingly dancable "Onboarding Exercise" by Global Extinction Enterprises; or the unsettling digital hyena-esque chaos that steals the limelight on Territorial Pissants' brilliant "Harlow;" or the lengthy ambient Touching Grass track that floats on a white noise current. Sometimes there are more subtle inclusions, such as the buzzing hum that sits beneath the clean whistles of Mother Anxieties' "There is Still Some Tenderness Here," which might just be my favorite track on the compilation.

Despite a focus on electronic weirdness and noisy oddity, some tracks provide more classic sounds and structures. Adzes, for example, has two contributions, including a very well executed cover of "Done." I really like the instrumental "Lichor," which hits an acute balance between somber and warm. S H R I E K I N G provides two tracks as well, one of which is a piano tune, while the other is expansive black metal with some top-notch shrieks. Everson Poe, who is building a bit of a reputation as of late for epic and expansive tracks, contributes the blackened yet doomy "Kintsugi," which builds across the breadth to an emotive climax. Your Ancestors Knew Death add some energy with the penultimate track, delivering a comparatively rockin' and punky number featuring some wonderful vocals.

The project as a whole jumps around sonically, but is curated in a way that doesn't feel overly jarring or uncomfortable. It's an inherently dynamic listen, and I highly recommend A. checking it out and B. throwing down a few dollars to support a great cause. Find it here!

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